New Delhi: Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir’s recent rhetoric describing Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” is being viewed as a possible catalyst for the deadly Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-linked terror attack in Pahalgam. The strike coincided with the visit of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, sources in Indian intelligence said.
Though agencies are yet to make a definitive conclusion, multiple intelligence officials indicated that Munir’s provocative speech—which also highlighted perceived discrimination between Hindus and Muslims—may have emboldened The Resistance Front (TRF), a LeT proxy group that claimed responsibility for the assault. The group may have aimed for a “spectacular strike” to mark the occasion.
According to intelligence assessments, LeT’s top commander Saifullah Kasuri, also known by the alias Khalid, is suspected to have played a key role in planning the attack. Authorities are also examining the involvement of two Rawalkot-based LeT commanders, including a figure identified as Abu Musa.
On April 18, Musa held a gathering in Rawalkot where he reportedly declared, “Jihad will continue, guns will rage, and beheadings will persist in Kashmir. India wants to change the region’s demography by issuing domicile certificates to non-locals.” During the Pahalgam attack, several victims were reportedly forced to recite the kalma (Islamic declaration of faith), and those who failed to do so were executed.
As previously reported by The Times of India, Indian intelligence agencies have linked the rising anti-Hindu rhetoric to a broader strategy. The messaging coincided with protests in Pakistan against amendments to the Waqf Act, potentially aimed at galvanising Pakistan-based militants.
Preliminary intelligence suggests the attack was carried out by approximately six terrorists, supported by local collaborators. “The attackers appear to have arrived days before the incident, conducted detailed reconnaissance, and struck when the timing was favorable,” a senior intelligence source stated. Reconnaissance of hotels in early April had already been flagged in earlier intelligence inputs, indicating that the operation was well-planned and not due to an intelligence lapse.
